advent - week 2

JOY

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That night some shepherds were in the fields outside the village, guarding their flocks of sheep. Suddenly an angel appeared among them, and the landscape shone bright with the glory of the Lord. They were badly frightened, but the angel reassured them. ‘Don’t be afraid!’ he said. ‘I bring you the most joyful news ever announced, and it is for everyone! The Savior—yes, the Messiah, the Lord—has been born tonight in Bethlehem! How will you recognize him? You will find a baby wrapped in a blanket, in a manger!’ Suddenly, the angel was joined by a vast host of others—the armies of heaven—praising God: ‘Glory to God in the highest heaven,’ they sang, ‘and peace on earth for all those pleasing him.’ When this great army of angels had returned again to heaven, the shepherds said to each other, ‘Come on! Let’s go to Bethlehem! Let’s see this wonderful thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.​— Luke 2:8-15

Imagine: the shepherds were in the field tending their sheep like any other night, when all of a sudden their whole world was shaken. In the quiet of night, a bright light appeared and the Bible says that the shepherds were terrified. But before they had time to turn around and flee, they were reassured. “Do not be afraid, I bring you the most joyful news ever announced, and it is for everyone.” Right in that moment the angel shattered their feeling of fear and planted joy into their hearts. A deep feeling of happiness. What started out as fear turned into the greatest news that they have ever received. Once the armies of heaven had left them, they even ended up running toward the situation that had initially terrified them.

Our God is an amazing God for not leaving behind a single detail. As you read about this wonderful encounter with some shepherds and an angel, you will see that this news was not just for them...scripture says it is for everyone. Maybe you, too, have been stopped in your tracks by fear- or even a feeling of hopelessness. If so, you also may need to be reassured.

This Advent season, BE REASSURED that you can rejoice through trials, because even our Savior was born through impossible circumstance. BE REASSURED that the most joyful news ever spoken into existence was also meant for you. You can rejoice in the fact that our God doesn’t leave out the details. Take heart in knowing that there is light right around the corner as long as we choose to not turn and flee in the opposite direction.

PRAYER: Heavenly Father, thank You for sending Your son to be born. Thank You for not leaving out a single detail so that we can walk through the impossible rejoicing. Teach us, God, to find joy in the moments that make us want to flee. You are for us and You love us. Thank You and amen. ​